This is an AI translated post.
Zombieverse: New Blood PD Discusses Casting and Survival Experts
- Writing language: Korean
- •
-
Base country: South Korea
- •
- Entertainment
0000-00-00 00:00:00
Select Language
Dex and Yook Sungjae's Survivability Shines in 'Zombieverse: New Blood'
The Netflix variety show ‘Zombieverse: New Blood’ is back for a second season, offering fans new entertainment. The combination of stronger zombies, an expanded story, and the unique chemistry between the actors and entertainers delivers both laughter and suspense.
Directors Park Jin-kyung and Moon Sang-don revealed behind-the-scenes stories in an interview, highlighting the changes in season 2 and praising the cast's charm and survivability. In particular, the performance of two individuals who stood out in season 2, Dex and Yook Sungjae became a hot topic.
Zombieverse: New Blood trailer / Source: Netflix YouTube
Dex and Yook Sungjae's Exceptional Survivability: Why Even the PDs Were Surprised?
‘Zombieverse: New Blood’ is a variety show where the cast confronts zombies within the basic framework of a survival game, creating both laughter and tension. Newly joined this season, Yook Sungjae and Dex, who has been with the show since season 1, showcased the highest level of survivability, surprising even the production team.
PD Moon Sang-don cited instances of Yook Sungjae and Dex's extreme survivability, saying, “In the swimming pool scene, the two hid underwater until the end to avoid being caught by the zombies,” and adding, “Even the filming team was flustered because they didn't know where the two were.” Dex used his agility, characteristic of a UDT veteran, to outwit the zombies, while Yook Sungjae, contrary to expectations, showed surprise by actively going to rescue his colleagues despite being scared.
Zombieverse: New Blood trailer / Source: Netflix YouTube
A Changed Story and Expanded Worldview Compared to Season 1
While season 1 simply repeated patterns of occurrence and escape, season 2 enhanced the fun with a more developed storytelling. PD Park Jin-kyung explained, “We used the clichés of zombie films to create a storyline with cause and effect.” The quests given in each episode and the dilemmas faced by the members piqued viewers' interest, providing a different level of immersion from season 1.
Season 2 notably features an expanded setting, starting in Jeju Island, traversing the country, and heading towards Seoul. The survival game against zombies, set against beautiful locations, was visually appealing. The encounters with even more evolved zombies heightened the tension.
Zombieverse: New Blood trailer / Source: Netflix YouTube
Casting Behind the Scenes: The Fresh Fun Brought by New Members
Newly joined members this season, Kwon Eun-bi, Taeyeon, Yook Sungjae, Jo Se-ho, Defconn and others, added to the fun with their fresh chemistry with the existing cast. In particular, Kwon Eun-bi stood out with her aggressive and proactive character, exceeding the production team's expectations.
PD Park Jin-kyung revealed, “We intentionally cast some with extensive variety show experience and others with existing friendships among the cast.” This allowed for quick bonding and natural synergy from the beginning of the broadcast.
Zombieverse: New Blood trailer / Source: Netflix YouTube
Why Season 2 Was Even More Abundant
‘Zombieverse: New Blood’ is a variety show incorporating comedy, action, and narrative, blending various genres within the unique world of zombies and receiving great love from viewers. This season, in particular, added a twist by setting Noh Hong-chul as a character with a rare constitution. The seeds planted at the end of season 1 were beautifully connected in season 2, fulfilling viewer expectations.
The production team also added meticulous directing to the zombie actors, enhancing the quality. While maintaining the nature of the variety game, they emphasized the realism of the zombies, capturing both comical and tense elements.
Zombieverse: New Blood trailer / Source: Netflix YouTube
Future Expectations and Possibilities
The production team expressed openness to the possibility of a season 3 in the interview. The fantastic teamwork between Dex and Yook Sungjae was particularly loved by viewers, raising anticipation for their potential return.
Meanwhile, Zombieverse is gaining global popularity, attracting a wide international fanbase. Having once again made its presence known through season 2, we can look forward to more fun from Netflix's zombie variety show!
Entertainer Dex?
Dex (real name: Kim Jin-young, born June 9, 1995) is a South Korean entertainer, YouTuber, and actor. Born in Suncheon, Jeolla South Province, he graduated from Suncheon Geumdang Middle School and Suncheon Jeil High School. Based on his experience as a corporal in the Republic of Korea Navy UDT/SEAL, he gained public attention in 2020 appearing as an instructor in the YouTube content 'Fake Sergeant 2'.
He later appeared on Netflix's variety show 'Solo Hell 2', gaining attention with the nickname 'Megi Nam' (a charming man who stirs up relationships), and showcased his talent in the MBC variety show 'Game of Blood 2', winning the Rookie Male Entertainer Award. He also runs the YouTube channel 'DEX101', communicating with fans through various content.
Recently, he expanded his activities as an actor, appearing in the mid-form drama 'Tarot: Seven Stories'. This work was released exclusively in CGV theaters on June 14, 2024.
Dex is loved by the public for his honest and kind personality, and strong image, actively working in various variety shows and dramas.
Yook Sungjae, South Korean Singer, Actor, and Entertainer?
Yook Sungjae is a South Korean singer, actor, and entertainer. He is a member and main vocalist of the boy group **BTOB**. Born on May 2, 1995, in Wonju, Gangwon Province, he debuted with BTOB in 2012 and has excelled in acting and variety shows in addition to group activities.
As an actor, he has shown impressive performances in dramas such as ‘Who Are You – School 2015’, ‘Goblin’, etc., proving his potential as an actor. In particular, he received much love for his comedic yet warm charm in ‘Goblin’.
His performance in variety shows is also noteworthy. As a regular member of ‘Master in the House’, he showed a cheerful and honest side, endearing himself to the public.
With his multifaceted charm and stable skills, Yook Sungjae continues to be loved in the K-pop and broadcasting industries, excelling in various fields as a singer, actor, and entertainer.
